More than half of the GOP candidates talked about World War III at last night's debate

Although Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul may have had the most memorable mention of World War III at Tuesday night's fifth-round Republican presidential debate, calling New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie the candidate to vote for "if you're in favor of World War III," he certainly wasn't the only candidate to harp on the topic.

Mentions of the next global war started early at the undercard debate, with Rick Santorum announcing that the third World War is already underway. "We have entered World War III," the former Pennsylvania senator said. "World War III has begun, and we have a leader who refuses to identify it and be truthful to the American people to the stakes that are involved, in part because his policies have led us here."

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson didn't see the war as having already begun, but rather scorned the U.S. for its "timidity" and "political correctness" and urged Congress to "declare a war on ISIS," in a display of strength also championed by former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush saw similar flaws in the government's response to ISIS, saying that Obama "creates an environment that now we're creating the most unstable situation we've had since the World War II era."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

Governor Christie made his own bellicose proposals, including staunch action against Russian President Vladimir Putin and ISIS and support for a no-fly zone, in a display of force that Paul labeled as "reckless" enough to spur another World War. "It's a recipe for World War III," Paul said. "We need to confront Russia from a position of strength, but we don't need to confront Russia from a point of recklessness that would lead to war."